Umbrella table with inlaid turntable

ABSTRACT

An umbrella table with an inlaid turntable is disclosed. The table includes a tabletop having a substantially planar top surface with a circular aperture therein. A disc is rotatably mounted in the circular aperture. The disc has a substantially planar upper surface and a central opening therethrough. The top surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the disc are substantially coplanar, and the central opening is capable of receiving a cylindrical shaft such as the shaft of an umbrella.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to tables, and more particularly relates to anumbrella table having an inlaid turntable or “Lazy Susan” that issubstantially flush with a stationary top surface of the table andincludes an umbrella-receiving bore therethrough.

BACKGROUND

Umbrella tables are a common type of outdoor furniture. Umbrella tablestypically include a stationary tabletop having a central opening forreceiving a shaft or pole of an umbrella. The umbrella pole extendsthrough the central opening in the tabletop such that the hood portionof the umbrella substantially shields the underlying tabletop and someor all of its occupants from sun and weather. An umbrella base typicallyis positioned below the central opening in the tabletop to receive andsupport the lower end of the umbrella pole. The portions of the tabletopthat surround the umbrella pole are available for supporting variousarticles such as dishes and flatware for dining. Because umbrella tablesare used outdoors, umbrella tables are typically constructed of weatherresistant materials such as metal and glass. In recent years, decorativecast aluminum umbrella tables increasingly have become popular.

Indoor “self-waiting” tables are also known. Such self-waiting tablesare typically constructed of wood, and include integral turntables or“Lazy Susans” mounted at or near their centers. One such self-waitingtable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 958,672. The integrally-mountedturntable permits items of food or the like to be placed on theturntable and moved from one location on the table to another as desiredfor convenient and easy access to persons positioned around the table.While such tables can be useful, such tables are not suited forextensive outdoor use, and do not provide a means for supporting anumbrella for shielding an underlying table and its occupants from sunand weather.

Others have attempted to provide a turntable for use with an umbrellatable by providing a separate turntable that sits atop a tabletop andincludes a central bore for passing a shaft of an umbrella therethrough.Such turntables can be positioned directly over a central opening in anumbrella table such that an umbrella pole can be inserted through boththe turntable and the aligned opening in the tabletop. One suchturntable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,946. Others have providedrotatable trays that mount on and around a portion of an umbrella polethat extends above a tabletop of an umbrella table. One such rotatabletray is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,712. Unfortunately, suchturntables and rotating shelves or trays can interfere with the use ofthe stationary top surface of an umbrella table. In particular, suchturntables and shelves decrease the amount of useful stationary surfacearea on an umbrella table. In addition, because such turntables andshelves protrude above the upper surfaces of their underlying tabletops,these items can actually interfere with passing items directly betweenpersons seated on opposite sides of an umbrella table when such personsdo not desire to use a turntable or rotating shelf to pass such items.Furthermore, such after-market turntables and rotating shelves candetract from the ornamental appearance of an umbrella table.

Therefore, there is a need for an umbrella table and turntable in whichthe turntable does not detract from the useful surface area of thetable. In addition, there is a need for a turntable that is visuallycompatible with the ornamental appearance of an ornamented umbrellatable. Further, there is a need for a turntable and umbrella tablewherein the turntable does not protrude above the top surface of thetable, and therefore does not provide an obstacle between opposite sidesof the table.

SUMMARY

The invention includes a table including a tabletop having asubstantially planar top surface with a circular aperture therein. Thetable also includes a disc that is rotatably mounted in the circularaperture. The disc includes a substantially planar upper surface and acentral opening therethrough. The top surface of the tabletop and theupper surface of the disc are substantially coplanar, and the centralopening is capable of receiving a cylindrical shaft such as an umbrellapole.

The invention also includes an umbrella table with a tabletop having asubstantially planar top surface. The umbrella table also includes aturntable having a substantially planar upper surface and a central boretherethrough. The upper surface of the turntable is substantially flushwith the top surface of the tabletop. The central bore is sized andconfigured to receive an umbrella pole, and the turntable issubstantially free to rotate when the umbrella pole is received in thecentral bore.

The invention further includes an umbrella table with a tabletop havinga first surface portion, a second surface portion that is substantiallycoplanar with the first surface portion, and an umbrella-receivingopening. The umbrella table further includes means for rotating thesecond surface portion relative to the first surface portion.

These and other aspects of the invention will be evident from a readingof the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention togetherwith the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an umbrella tableaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the umbrella table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop portion of the umbrellatable shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 3—3 as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the center portion of the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a is a top plan view of the turntable or disc portion of theumbrella table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 b is a bottom plan view of the turntable or disc portion shown inFIG. 5 a;

FIG. 5 c is a side view of the turntable or disc portion shown in FIGS.5 a and 5 b, shown in partial cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a detail of the center portion of the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 3, shown with the bearing and turntable disc removed;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a bearing bracket for use in an umbrella tablelike that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the underside of the umbrellatable shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a table 10 according to the invention.The table 10 includes a tabletop 12 and an underlying table support 13.The upper surface 15 of the tabletop 12 is substantially flat, and mayhave any desired outer shape. For example, the tabletop 12 may becircular as shown. Alternatively, the table 10 may be square,rectangular, oval, or the like. The table support 13 can be configuredin any manner that stably supports the tabletop in an elevated position.Preferably, the table support 13 has a substantially open center andpermits an umbrella stand 22 to be positioned beneath the table 10 asshown. The tabletop 12 includes a central aperture or recess 14. Theaperture 14 is sized and shaped to receive a turntable or disc 30 asshown. The turntable 30 includes a central opening 16 for receiving ashaft 20 of an umbrella. The table 10 is desirably configured such thatthe umbrella shaft 20 can fully pass through the central opening 16 andextend to an underlying umbrella stand 22 as shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 15 of the tabletop 12 and the topsurface 31 of the turntable 30 are substantially coplanar such that thesurfaces 15, 31 are substantially flush with each other. Accordingly,when the turntable 30 is not used, the turntable 30 does not diminishthe surface area of the table 10 or interfere with the continuity of thetable's surface.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the turntable or disc 30 is received in adisc-receiving aperture or recess 14 in the tabletop 12. The aperture 14desirably is centered in the tabletop 12 as shown, though the aperture14 may be located elsewhere in the tabletop 12 if desired. The turntable30 is received in the aperture 14. Preferably, the aperture 14 is onlyslightly larger in diameter than the turntable 30 such that the radialgap between the tabletop 12 and turntable 30 is minimized. A centralopening 16 extends through the turntable 30 as shown. The centralopening 16 is sized to receive shafts of conventional patio umbrellasthat typically range in diameter from about 1.38 to about 2 inches.Desirably, the opening 16 is at least about 2 inches in diameter.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show one arrangement for rotatably supporting theturntable 30 in the aperture 14. In the embodiment shown, a bearingsupport 40 is affixed to the underside of the tabletop 12. As shown inFIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the bearing bracket 40 includes a centrallypositioned hub 42. The hub 42 includes a bearing receptacle 43 and acentral bore 47. One or more brace members 44 connect the hub 42 to thetabletop 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the bearing bracket 40 may include anouter support 46. The outer support may be welded or otherwise attachedto the underside of the tabletop 12. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality ofbrace members 44 may connect the hub 42 to the outer support 46.

As shown in FIG. 4, a bearing such as a ball bearing assembly 50 isnested in the bearing receptacle 43 in the hub 42. The bearing assembly50 may include an outer race 52, an inner race 54, and a plurality ofball bearings 56 disposed between the inner and outer races. Preferably,the bearing assembly 50 is constructed of weather-resistant andcorrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel, brass, or thelike. As shown in FIGS. 5 a–5 c, the turntable or disc 32 includes anouter edge 34 and a central opening 16. The underside of the turntabledesirably includes a cylindrical boss 37 and a shoulder 33. A pluralityof radial reinforcement ribs 39 may extend between the shoulder 33 and arim portion 38 along the outer edge 34. As shown in FIG. 4, the boss 44of the turntable 30 is configured to extend through the inner race 54 ofthe bearing assembly 50. Preferably, the outer diameter of the boss 36is about the same size as the inner diameter of the inner race 54 suchthat the boss 36 securely fits inside the bearing assembly 50. Inaddition, as shown in FIG. 4, the shoulder 33 of the turntable 30 issized such that the shoulder 33 rests atop the inner race 54. Ifdesired, the bearing receptacle 43 can be sized such that the bearingassembly 50 can be pressed into the receptacle 43, thereby providing atight, interference fit. Similarly, the boss 36 on the turntable 30 canbe sized such that the boss 36 can be pressed into the bearing assembly50 to provide a tight, interference fit. The bearing assembly 50 permitsthe turntable 30 to freely rotate within the aperture 14 in the tabletop12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the central opening 16 in the turntable30 permits a shaft 20 such as an umbrella pole to completely extendthrough the table 10. If desired, a collar or bushing 60 can be providedas shown in FIG. 4 to reduce the radial clearance between the shaft 20and the walls of the opening 16. The bushing 60 can be constructed of apolymeric material, for example, thereby providing a low-frictionbearing surface for the shaft 20 in the opening 16.

Preferably, the turntable 30 and tabletop 12 have matching orcomplementary ornamental appearances. If desired, it is possible toprovide a turntable 30 and tabletop 12 with patterns and or texturesthat make it difficult to detect any separation between the twocomponents. Preferably, a table according to the invention issubstantially constructed of one or more materials that are resistant todegradation caused by sun, rain, moisture, heat, cold, or other weatherconditions. For example, it is desirable to construct the majorcomponents of a table according to the invention of aluminum, and inparticular, of cast aluminum. Alternatively, such a table may beconstructed from cast iron, a polymeric material, or any other suitablematerial or materials.

The above description of embodiments of the invention are for thepurpose of describing various aspects of the invention, are not intendedto limit the scope of the invention thereto. Persons of ordinary skillin the art will understand that certain modifications may be made to thedescribed embodiments without departing from the invention. All suchmodifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A table comprising: (a) a tabletop having a substantially planar topsurface with a circular aperture therein; (b) a disc rotatably mountedin the circular aperture, the disc having a substantially planar uppersurface and a central opening therethrough; and (c) a support affixed tothe table top to rotatably support the disc; and (d) at least onefriction reducing element that facilitates rotation of the disc in thecircular aperture; (e) wherein the top surface of the tabletop and theupper surface of the disc are substantially coplanar; and the centralopening is capable of receiving a cylindrical shaft.
 2. A tableaccording to claim 1 wherein the friction-reducing element is a bearingconfigured to rotatably support the disc in the circular aperture.
 3. Atable according to claim 2 wherein the bearing is substantiallyconstructed of one or more corrosion-resistant materials.
 4. A tableaccording to claim 2 wherein the bearing includes a central bore and thedisc includes a boss that is received in the bore.
 5. A table accordingto claim 2 wherein the support is a bearing bracket affixed to anunderside of the tabletop and the bearing is supported in the bearingbracket.
 6. A table according to claim 5 wherein the bearing bracketcomprises a hub disposed proximate to a center portion of the circularaperture in the tabletop.
 7. A table according to claim 6 wherein thebearing bracket further comprises at least one brace affixing the hub tothe tabletop.
 8. A table according to claim 1 wherein the tabletop anddisc are substantially constructed of weather-resistant materials.
 9. Atable according to claim 8 wherein the tabletop and disc aresubstantially constructed of aluminum.
 10. A table according to claim 1and further comprising a bushing in the central opening.
 11. An umbrellatable comprising: (a) a tabletop having a substantially planar topsurface; (b) a turntable having a substantially planar upper surface anda central bore therethrough; (c) a support affixed to the tabletop torotatably support the disc; and (d) at least one friction-reducingelement; (e) wherein the upper surface of the turntable is substantiallyflush with the top surface of the tabletop, the central bore is sizedand configured to receive an umbrella pole, the turntable issubstantially free to rotate when the umbrella pole is received in thecentral bore, and the friction-reducing element facilitates rotation ofthe turntable.
 12. A table according to claim 11 wherein the supportincludes a bearing, and the turntable is rotatably supported by thebearing.
 13. A table according to claim 12 wherein the bearing is a ballbearing.
 14. A table according to claim 12 wherein the bearing includesa central bore and the turntable includes a boss received in the bore.15. A table according to claim 12 wherein the support is a bearingbracket affixed to the tabletop.
 16. A table according to claim 15wherein the tabletop includes a circular aperture having a center andthe bearing bracket comprises a hub disposed proximate to the center ofthe circular aperture.
 17. A table according to claim 16 wherein thebracket further comprises at least one brace member affixing the hub tothe tabletop.
 18. A table according to claim 11 wherein the tabletop andturntable are substantially constructed of one or more weather-resistantmaterials.
 19. A table according to claim 18 wherein the tabletop andturntable are substantially constructed of aluminum.
 20. A tableaccording to claim 11 wherein the tabletop and turntable includecomplimentary ornamental patterns.
 21. An umbrella table comprising: (a)a tabletop having a stationary surface portion and a rotating surfaceportion; (b) an opening that permits an umbrella pole to extend throughthe rotating surface portion; and (c) a support affixed to thestationary surface portion to rotatably support the rotating surfaceportion; (d) at least one friction-reducing element that facilitatesrotation of the rotating surface portion; (e) wherein the stationarysurface portion and rotating surface portion of the tabletop aresubstantially coplanar.
 22. An umbrella table comprising: (a) a tabletophaving a first surface portion, a second surface portion that issubstantially coplanar with the first surface portion, and anumbrella-receiving opening; and (b) means for rotating the secondsurface portion relative to the first surface portion, wherein the meansfor rotating comprises a support affixed to the first surface portionand rotatably supporting the second surface portion, and at least onefriction-reducing element.